Collapsible chair

ABSTRACT

A chair operable between an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration includes one or more legs, a handle and a locking mechanism. The one or more legs support a seat and the handle extends away from the seat opposite the one or more legs. The locking mechanism includes a lock plug disposed in an elongate trough. Movement of the handle between the extended and collapsed configurations involves depressing the lock plug and flipping the trough to an opposite side of the lock plug.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/527,243, filed Oct. 29, 2014 and entitled COLLAPSIBLE CHAIR, whichapplication is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/173,736, filed Feb. 5, 2014, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,876,203 andentitled COLLAPSIBLE CHAIR, which is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to chairs. More particularly, the disclosurerelates to collapsible chairs.

INTRODUCTION

Generally, collapsible chairs are used for seating in areas wherepermanent seating is not possible or practical. This includes outdoorand indoor events such as funerals, college graduations, religiousservices, sporting events and competitions, and the like. In addition,collapsible chairs may be used for any situation that may require extraseating.

Collapsible chairs exist which are operable between an extendedconfiguration that provides a seating surface, and a collapsedconfiguration in which the chair may be transported. However, Applicanthas found that these pre-existing collapsible chairs are notparticularly suitable for travelers, particularly travelers withdecreased mobility. For example, pre-existing chairs typically eitherhave a collapsed configuration that is too large to carry onto acommercial airliner, or an extended configuration that does not provideadequate support for a user that has difficulty standing up and sittingdown. Also, operating pre-existing collapsible chairs between extendedand collapsed configurations (and/or securing these chairs in theseconfigurations) typically involves manipulation of relativelycomplicated or inconvenient mechanisms.

BRIEF SUMMARY

One or more embodiments of a chair disclosed herein may overcome one ormore of the above identified deficiencies of pre-existing collapsiblechairs.

In a first example, a chair operable between an extended configurationand a collapsed configuration is provided. The chair may include one ormore legs and a handle. The one or more legs may support a seat and thehandle may extend away from the seat opposite the one or more legs. Thechair may include a locking mechanism having a lock plug disposed in anelongate trough. Movement of the handle between the extended andcollapsed configurations may involve depressing the lock plug andflipping the trough to an opposite side of the lock plug.

In a second example, a chair operable between an extended configurationand a collapsed configuration may include one or more legs and a handle.The one or more legs may support a seat, and the handle may extend awayfrom the seat opposite the one or more legs. The handle and the seat maybe pivotally connected to at least one of the legs about a combinedpivot axis.

In a third example, a chair operable between an extended configurationand a collapsed configuration may include one or more legs, a handle,and a joint. The one or more legs may support a seat and the handle mayextend away from the seat opposite the one or more legs. The joint maypivotally connect the handle to at least one of the legs about a handlepivot axis. The joint may include a locking mechanism for selectivelysecuring the handle in the extended and collapsed configurations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair in an extended configuration,with the chair including a first leg, a second leg, a third leg, a seat,and a joint connecting a handle to the first leg, according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the chair of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a side view of the chair of FIG. 1 showing a direction of legmovement while transitioning the legs to a collapsed configuration fromthe extended configuration.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a bottom side of the seat of the chairof FIG. 1 showing pockets to support upper portions of the second andthird legs in the extended configuration.

FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of the seat of FIG. 3B taken in aplane that extends through the seat slots to show upper and rear wallportions of the pockets for supporting respective rear and top surfacesof the second and third legs.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the chair of FIG. 1 that similarly showsthe direction of leg movement while transitioning the legs to thecollapsed configuration from the extended configuration.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the chair of FIG. 1 showing the seat movingfrom an extended configuration (drawn in solid lines) to a collapsedconfiguration (drawn in dash double dot lines), and the handle movingfrom an extended configuration (draw in solid lines) to a collapsedconfiguration (drawn in dash double dot lines).

FIG. 6 is a semi-schematic cross-sectional view of the joint of FIG. 1showing a lock plug in an OUT position to extend into and frictionallyengage a first end portion of a trough to secure the handle in theextended configuration.

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the joint with the handle securedin the extended configuration and the seat in the collapsedconfiguration.

FIG. 8 is a semi-schematic cross-sectional view of the joint showing thelock plugdepressed to an IN position and the handle pivoted toward thefirst leg about a handle pivot axis.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the joint in a position similar to thatof FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a semi-schematic cross-sectional view of the joint showingthe handle further pivoted about the handle pivot axis, and the lockplug further depressed into a bore of the first leg.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the joint showing the handle near thecollapsed configuration and the lock plug near a second end portion ofthe trough.

FIG. 12 is a semi-schematic cross-sectional view of the joint showingthe lock plug in the OUT position to extend into and frictionally engagethe second end portion of the trough to secure the handle in thecollapsed configuration.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the chair of FIG. 1 in a collapsedconfiguration.

FIG. 14 is a semi-schematic cross-sectional view of the joint of FIG. 1showing another embodiment of a lock plug in the OUT position to extendinto and frictionally engage the first end portion of the trough tosecure the handle in the extended configuration.

FIG. 15 is a semi-schematic cross-sectional view of the joint showingthe lock plug of FIG. 14 depressed to the IN position and the handlepivoted toward the first leg about the handle pivot axis.

FIG. 16 is a semi-schematic cross-sectional view of the joint showingthe handle further pivoted about the handle pivot axis, and the lockplug of FIG. 14 further depressed into the bore of the first leg.

FIG. 17 is a semi-schematic cross-sectional view of the joint showingthe lock plug of FIG. 14 in the OUT position to extend into andfrictionally engage the second end portion of the trough to secure thehandle in the collapsed configuration.

Those with ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the elementsin the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and are notnecessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of theelements in the drawings may be exaggerated, relative to other elements,in order to improve the understanding of the disclosure.

There may be additional structures described in the description that arenot depicted in the drawings, and the absence of such a drawing shouldnot be considered as an omission of such design from the specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a chair 100, according to the presentdisclosure. As shown, chair 100 may include one or more legs, such as afirst leg 102, a second leg 104, and a third leg 106, a seat 107, and ahandle 108. As shown, handle 108 may extend away from seat 107 oppositelegs 102, 104, and 106.

The one or more legs may support seat 107. For example, respective lowerportions 102 a, 104 a, and 106 a of legs 102, 104, and 106 may includerespective feet 111 that may be positioned on the ground tosubstantially stabilize seat 107 against vertical and lateral forces.

First leg 102 may be a rear leg of chair 100, and second and third legs104 and 106 may be a pair of front legs of chair 100. For example, auser may sit on seat 107, such that the user faces handle 108 withhandle 108 extending upward between the user's legs. Second and thirdlegs 104 and 106 of chair 100 may press against the ground proximate thelegs of the user, and first leg 102 may press against the ground underand/or behind the user's posterior. In this position, the user mayeasily grasp an upper portion of handle 108, shown here as resembling acurved cane handle, for increased stability. In this extendedconfiguration, seat 107 may be generally parallel to the ground and maydefine a sitting surface for the user to sit thereon comfortably.

Chair 100 may be operable between an extended configuration (shown inFIG. 1) and a collapsed configuration (shown in FIG. 13). In theextended configuration, chair 100 may be dimensioned to provide bothstability and convenience, particularly for users with decreasedmobility. For example, in the extended configuration, seat 107 may besupported at a height above the ground that is similar to that of aconventional chair, such as at a height of about 18 to 24 inches, andhandle 108 may extend upward to a height similar to that of a chestregion of the user when seated, so that the user may simultaneously holdhandle 108 and easily sit down on and stand up from seat 107 withoutexcessive bending.

In the collapsed configuration (see FIG. 13), chair 100 may have overalldimensions that allow chair 100 to be easily carried and/or stowed(e.g., for convenient travel). For example, chair 100 in the collapsedposition may have an overall length that is less than or equal to apredetermined longest allowable exterior dimension of a carry-on airlineluggage piece (which in the United States is currently 19.5 inches), sothat the user may stow chair 100 in the collapsed position in anoverhead compartment of a commercial airliner.

Applicant has found that incorporating one or more of the followingfeatures into a chair, according to aspects of the present disclosure,may provide for both increased stability and convenience of the chair inthe extended and/or collapsed configurations (and/or movement therebetween).

For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, chair 100 may include a joint110. Joint 110 may pivotally connect handle 108 to at least one of theone or more legs. As shown, joint 110 pivotally connects handle 108 tofirst leg 102 about a handle pivot axis A1. First leg 102 may include anupper portion 102 b connected to lower portion 102 a by a centralportion 102 c, and as shown, joint 110 may pivotally connect handle 108to upper portion 102 b. Pivoting of handle 108 about axis A1 may involvehandle 108 moving or pivoting toward lower portions 102 a, 104 a, and106 a of respective legs 102, 104, and 106 about axis A1.

The one or more legs may be pivotally connected to one another about aleg pivot axis A2. Second leg 104 may include an upper portion 104 bconnected to lower portion 104 a by a central portion 104 c. Third leg106 may include an upper portion 106 b connected to lower portion 106 aby a central portion 106 c. Central portion 102 c of first leg 102 maybe pivotally connected to central portions 104 c and 106 c of respectivelegs 104 and 106.

Seat 107 may include first and second seat slots 112 and 114. Upperportion 104 b of leg 104 may include a pin 116 slidingly engaged in slot112, and upper portion 106 b of leg 106 may include a pin 118 slidinglyengaged in slot 114. Pins 116 and 118 may define a sliding axis A3. Asshown, axes A3, A2, and A1 may be parallel to one another.

Upper portions 104 b and 106 b of legs 104 and 106 may pivot towardupper portion 102 b of leg 102 about axis A2, as lower portions 104 aand 106 a of legs 104 and 106 pivot toward lower portion 102 a of leg102 about axis A2, which may also involve axis A3 (and associated upperportions 104 b and 106 b) sliding in respective seat slots 112 and 114toward joint 110.

Seat 107 may also be pivotally connected to leg 102 about axis A1, thusaxis A1 may be described as a combined pivot axis for both handle 108and seat 107. In other embodiments, seat 107 and handle 108 may bepivotally connected to leg 102 about different pivot axes.

Seat 107 may pivot about axis A1 away from axis A2 (see FIG. 1), as axisA3 slides toward joint 110 (or associated upper portion 102 b of leg102) from distal ends 112 a and 114 a to central portions 112 b and 114b of respective seat slots 112 and 114 (see FIG. 2).

Seat 107 may pivot about axis A1 toward axis A2 (see FIG. 1), as axis A3slides toward upper portion 102 b from central portions 112 b and 114 bto proximal portions 112 c and 114 c of respective seat slots 112 and114 (see FIG. 2).

Each of lower portions 102 a, 104 a, and 106 a of legs 102, 104 and 106may include a plurality of apertures 120 and a push button mechanism122. Mechanism 122 may be configured to selectively engage any one ofapertures 120, which may allow for the lower portions 102 a, 104 a, and106 a of the legs 102, 104 and 106 to be selectively telescoped in(e.g., toward axis A2) and to be selectively telescoped out (e.g., awayfrom axis A2).

As can be seen in FIG. 2, joint 110 may include a locking mechanism 124including a lock plug 126 having a slot 127 with first and second ends127 a and 127 b, an elongate trough 128, and a spring 130. Plug 126 maybe disposed in trough 128, and spring 130 may press against plug 126.Trough 128 may be fixedly attached to (or included in) handle 108.Trough 128 may be pivotally connected to leg 102 about axis A1. Lockingmechanism 124 may be configured to selectively secure handle 108 in theextended configuration and in the collapsed configuration, which isdescribed in more detail below in relation to FIGS. 6-17.

Axis A1 may be defined by a pin 132 extending through a pair ofapertures 134 in trough 128, through a pair of apertures 136 in seat107, through a pair of apertures 138 in upper portion 102 b of leg 102,and through slot 127 of plug 126. In other embodiments, axis A1 may bedefined by another suitable structure or mechanism, such as a pair ofprotrusions extending from opposite sides of upper portion 102 b throughapertures 134 and 136.

Axis A2 may be defined by a pin 140 extending through apertures in thecentral portions of legs 102, 104, and 106. In other embodiments, axisA2 may be defined by another suitable structure or mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 2, first leg 102 may have a hollow cylindrical shapeand may include a bore 142. Bore 142 may extend from upper portion 102 btoward central portion 102 c of first leg 102.

Plug 126 may have a pair of slots 127 extending substantially parallelto an elongate direction of plug 126. The pair of slots 127 may be onopposite sides of plug 126. Spring 130 may be disposed in a hollowrecess of plug 126 (see FIGS. 6, 8, 10, and 12). Plug 126 may bedisposed in bore 142. Pin 132 may extend through and be slidinglyengaged in slot(s) 127. Pin 132 may retain spring 130 inside the hollowrecess of plug 126 between pin 132 and a distal end (or cap portion) ofplug 126 (see FIGS. 6, 8, 10, and 12).

Trough 128 may wrap around and/or frictionally engage upper portion 102b of leg 102. Pin 132 may provide a surface upon which spring 130 maypress to bias lock plug 126 to an OUT position, as will be describedbelow in more detail.

Second leg 104 and third leg 106 may be cylindrical pipes bent at theirrespective central portions, and may have equal lengths.

As shown in FIG. 2, seat 107 may include a rear portion 107 a and afront portion 107 b. Slots 112 and 114 may extend from rear portion 107a toward front portion 107 b. Front portion 107 b of seat 107 may bepivotally connected to upper portion 102 b of first leg 102, asdescribed above. Upper portion 104 b of second leg 104 and upper portion106 b of third leg 106 may include respective pins 116 and 118 that maybe slidingly engaged in slots 112 and 114, as previously described. Pins116 and 118 may extend through apertures in the respective upperportions 104 b and 106 b of legs 104 and 106.

As shown in FIG. 3A, leg 104 may move from the extended configuration(shown in solid lines) to the collapsed configuration (shown in dashdouble dot lines). For example, upper portion 104 b of leg 104 may pivotabout axis A2 toward upper portion 102 b of leg 102 in a direction D1,and lower portion 104 a of leg 104 may pivot about axis A2 toward lowerportion 102 a of leg 102 in a direction D2 to position legs 104 and 102in a substantially flat configuration. Leg 106 may move in a similarfashion as leg 104, as shown in FIG. 4. However, leg 106 would bedirectly behind leg 104 in FIG. 3, thus leg 106 is not shown in FIG. 3.As shown in FIGS. 1-3C, a pocket (or a pocket formed by a wall) 180 anda pocket (or a pocket formed by a wall) 182 may extend from the bottomof seat 107 and may be proximate and parallel to respective firstportion 112 a of slot 112 and first portion 114 a of slot 114. In theextended configuration of legs 104 and 106, wall portions of pockets 180and 182 may bear against surfaces of respective upper portions 104 b and106 b of legs 104 and 106 to reduce or prevent any downward and/orrearward load from being exerted on pins 116 and 118 in respective slots112 and 114, which may improve the strength of chair 100.

For example, when the user sits on seat 107, a rearward load (in adirection away from front portion 107 b and toward rear end portion 107a) and a downward load may be exerted on cantilevered upper portions 104b and 106 b. If these loads were applied to pins 116 and 118, then thesepins may bend, or in some cases may break (e.g., if the user isrelatively large). However, by providing wall portions against which topand rear surfaces of upper portions 104 b and 106 b may press in theextended configuration, any load on pins 116 and 118 may be eliminated(or greatly reduced).

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, an upper wall portion 182 a of pocket182 may press against a top surface of upper portion 106 b of leg 106distal pin 118 in the extended configuration of leg 106, and a rear wallportion 182 b of pocket 182 may press against a rear surface of upperportion 106 b of leg 106 distal pin 118 in the extended configuration ofleg 106.

As shown in FIG. 3A, an upper wall portion 180 a of pocket 180 may pressagainst a top surface of upper portion 104 b of leg 104 distal pin 116in the extended configuration of leg 104, and a rear wall portion 180 bof pocket 180 may press against a rear surface of upper portion 104 b ofleg 104 distal pin 116 in the extended configuration of leg 104.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A, the wall portions of pockets 180 and 182 maybe curved wall portions that may be shaped to correspond to (or closelymatch) a curvature of respective top and rear surfaces of upper portions104 b and 106 b.

In some embodiments, pocket 180 may wrap upper portion 104 b of leg 104,and pocket 182 may wrap upper portion 106 b of leg 106. The rear (orback) surface of upper portion 104 b of leg 104 may bear against a backwall portion 108 b of pocket 180, and the rear (or back) surface ofupper portion 106 b of leg 106 may bear against back wall portion 182 bof pocket 182. The top surface of upper portion 104 b of leg 104 maybear against upper wall portion 180 a, and the top surface of upperportion 106 b of leg 106 may bear against upper wall portion 182 a ofpocket 182. In some embodiments, the upper wall portions of pockets 180and 182 may be bottom surfaces of seat 107.

FIG. 3B is a bottom perspective view of seat 107 showing walls 180 and182, which may form the pockets. For example, wall 180 may define arecess 184 in which upper portion 104 b (see FIG. 3A) may be disposed inthe extended configuration, and wall 182 may define a recess 186 inwhich upper portion 106 b (see FIG. 1) may be disposed in the extendedconfiguration.

FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of seat 107 taken in a plane parallelto the view of FIG. 3B that passes through slots 112 and 114. As shown,walls (or pockets) 180 and 182 are both generally “c” shaped.

FIG. 4 shows the extended configuration of legs 104 and 106 in solidlines, and the collapsed configuration of legs 104 and 106 in dashdouble dot lines. As can be seen in FIG. 4, pins 116 and 118 may slidein direction D1 in respective slots 112 and 114 as upper portions 104 band 106 b of second leg and third legs 106 move toward front portion 107b of seat 107, and as lower portions 104 a and 106 a pivot about axis A2toward lower portion 102 a of first leg 102 in direction D2.

FIG. 5 is a side view of chair 100. In FIG. 5, seat 107 is shown in theextended configuration in solid lines and in the collapsed configurationin dash double dot lines. Movement of seat 107 from the extendedconfiguration to the collapsed configuration may involve pivoting seat107 about axis A1 in a direction D3. Pivoting seat 107 about axis A1 indirection D3 may result in pivoting axis A3 and associated second leg104 and third leg 106 (leg 106 is not shown in FIG. 5 because leg 106would be directly behind leg 104) about axis A2 to align leg 104 (andleg 106) with leg 102. Leg 104, before pivoting about axis A2 is shownin FIG. 5 in solid lines. Leg 104 after pivoting about axis A2 (andaligned with leg 102) is shown in dash double dot lines.

The lower portions of legs 102 and 104 (and leg 106) may be telescopedin toward trough 128 in a direction D4. A telescoped out position oflegs 102 and 104 is shown to the left in FIG. 5 (with leg 102 drawn insolid lines and leg 104 drawn in dash double dot lines), and atelescoped in position of legs 102 and 104 (both drawn in dash doubledot lines) is shown just to the right of the telescoped out position.

In FIG. 5, handle 108 is shown in the extended configuration in solidlines and in the collapsed configuration in dash double dot lines.Handle 108 may be adapted to pivot toward leg pivot axis A2 (indirection D5) about handle pivot axis A1 to position first leg 102,second leg 104, third leg 106 (not shown here), and handle 108 in asubstantially flat configuration.

As described above, seat 107 may be adapted to pivot toward leg pivotaxis A2 in direction D4, which may position upper portions 102 b, 104 band 106 b of first, second, and third legs 102, 104 and 106 between seat107 and handle 108, as shown in FIG. 5. Leg 104 may slightly rotateabout leg pivot axis A2 in a direction opposite to direction D3 whenseat 107 moves in direction D3 to the collapsed configuration. Leg 104and leg 102 (as well as leg 106, which is not shown here) may be alignedwhen seat 107 reaches the collapsed configuration (shown in double dotdash lines).

It may not be noted that third leg 106 may also move simultaneously withsecond leg 104 in a direction opposite to direction D3 when seat 107moves in direction D3. Third leg 106 may be aligned with second leg 104and first leg 102 when seat 107 is in the collapsed configuration.

As shown in FIG. 5, handle 108 in the collapsed configuration may pressagainst (or be positioned proximal) leg 104 (and/or leg 106) that issubstantially aligned with leg 102. Handle 108 pressing against (orsecurely positioned proximal to) leg 104 (and/or leg 106) may preventpivoting the upper portions of legs 104 and 106 relative to the upperportion of leg 102, and thereby may prevent seat 107 from moving to theextended configuration. For example, sliding axis A3 is shown as offsetfrom seat pivot axis A1 when legs 102 and 104 are in the collapsedconfiguration and substantially aligned, which may result in pivotingleg 104 about axis A2 in the direction D3 as seat 107 is pivoted aboutaxis A1 in a direction opposite to direction D3. However, such pivotingseat 107 about axis A1 in a direction opposite to D3 may be arrested (orprevented) by handle 108 pressing against (or securely positionedproximal to) leg 104 to arrest (or prevent) pivoting leg 104 about axisA2 in direction D3.

In some embodiments, any one of apertures 120 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) oneach of lower portions 102 a, 104 a, and 106 a of legs 102, 104 and 106may allow lower portions 102 a, 104 a, and 106 a of legs 102, 104 and106 to be telescoped in by push button mechanism 122. Mechanism 122 mayselectively engage any one of apertures 120 on each of lower portions102 a, 104 a, and 106 a of legs 102, 104 and 106 respectively.Telescoping in of first leg 102, second leg 104, and third leg 106 andmoving handle 108 in direction D5 (in FIG. 5) may reduce the length ofchair 100. In the collapsed position, chair 100 may have an overalllength Ll that may be less than or equal to a predetermined longestallowable exterior dimension of a carry-on airline luggage piece (e.g.,19.5 inches), so that the user may stow chair 100 in the collapsedconfiguration in an overhead compartment of a commercial airliner.

Now referring to FIGS. 6-12, joint 110 may enable the transition ofhandle 108 from the extended configuration to the collapsedconfiguration (and vice versa), and locking mechanism 124 (see FIG. 2)of joint 110 may selectively secure handle 108 in the extendedconfiguration (see FIG. 1 and solid lines in FIG. 5) and the collapsedconfigurations (see FIG. 13 and dash double dot lines in FIG. 5).

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken in a plane parallel to the viewof FIG. 5 showing joint 110, a portion of handle 108, and a portion ofleg 102, with handle 108 in the extended configuration (see handle 108drawn in solid lines in FIG. 5 for the extended configuration of handle108).

FIG. 7 is a perspective view from a bottom angle of a portion of thechair of FIG. 5 showing a bottom portion of seat 107 in the collapsedconfiguration, and handle 108 and joint 110 in similar positions asshown in FIG. 6.

Turning back to FIG. 6, trough 128 may be configured to wrap around afirst side 150 of first leg 102 when handle 108 is in the extendedconfiguration.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, trough 128 may include a central portion 152disposed between a first end portion 154 and a second end portion 156.Central portion 152 of trough 128 may have a greater depth than firstand second end portions 154 and 156 of trough 128 in a directionperpendicular to handle pivot axis A1 (and an elongate direction ofhandle 108), as can be seen best in FIG. 6 in which a depth of centralportion 152 is indicated at D6, and a depth of first and second endportions 154 and 156 is indicated at D7.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, central portion 152 may include a dome-shapedstructure to provide the greater depth. In other embodiments, centralportion 152 of trough 128 may include any other suitable shapedstructure or recess to provide the greater depth.

Lock plug 126 of joint 110 may be operable between an IN state (or INposition) and the OUT state (or OUT position). In FIGS. 6 and 7, lockplug 126 is shown in the OUT state. As shown, the OUT state maycorrespond to distal end 126 a of lock plug 126 positioned proximalfirst end portion 154 of trough 128 when handle 108 is in the extendedconfiguration such that lock plug 126 may extend into and frictionallyengage first end portion 154 of trough 128 to prevent handle 108 frommoving to the collapsed configuration. For example, lock plug 126 maycontact (or press against) first end portion 154 of trough 128 when lockplug 126 is in the OUT position, and thereby may block the movement ofhandle 108 about axis A1 from the extended configuration to thecollapsed configuration.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the OUT position of plug 126, pin 132 may bepositioned proximal (or may contact) first end 127 a of slot 127, andspring 130 may extend (and be retained) between pin 132 and distal end(or cap) portion 126 a of plug 126. Spring 130 may bias plug 126 to theOUT position by pressing against pin 132, and pin 132 may retain aproximal (or rear) portion of plug 126 in bore 142. Spring 130 mayextend in the recess of lock plug 126. Lock plug 126 enclosing spring130 may be disposed in bore 142.

Handle 108 may be moved between the extended configuration (see FIG. 1and FIG. 6) and the collapsed configuration (see FIG. 13 and the dashdouble dot lines of handle 108 in FIG. 5) by depressing lock plug 126and flipping trough 128 to an opposite side of lock plug 126. Forexample, FIG. 6 shows trough 128 disposed around a first side 126 b oflock plug 126, FIGS. 8-10 show lock plug 126 depressed to the IN stateand trough 128 pivoting about axis A1, and FIG. 12 shows trough 128completely flipped to a second side 126 c of lock plug 126 that isopposite first side 126 b.

The IN position of lock plug 126 may correspond to distal end 126 a oflock plug 126 depressed to central portion 152 of trough 128 to allowhandle 108 to pivot about handle pivot axis A1 between the extended andcollapsed configurations. In this IN position (see FIGS. 8-11), lockplug 126 may extend further into bore 142 of leg 102 than when lock plug126 is in the OUT position (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

In some embodiments, central portion 152 may frictionally engagedepressed lock plug 126 and may apply appropriate pressure against abiasing force provided by spring 130 so that lock plug 126 may remain inthe depressed position (i.e., the IN position) when handle 108 is movedbetween the extended configuration and the collapsed configuration (seeFIGS. 8-11).

As previously described, lock plug 126 may be biased to the OUT state,for example, by spring 130. For example, spring 130 may apply a force onlock plug 126 in a direction from the IN state toward the OUT state. Forexample, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the IN state of lock plug 126 maycorrespond a more compressed state of spring 130, and as shown in FIGS.6 and 12, the OUT state of lock plug 126 may correspond to a lesscompressed state of spring 130.

In the IN position of lock plug 126 shown in FIGS. 8-11, handle 108 maypivot about handle pivot axis A1. As handle 108 pivots about handlepivot axis A1 to the collapsed configuration, as shown in FIG. 12,trough 128 may wrap around a second side 160 of first leg 102 oppositefirst side 150. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the IN position maycorrespond to pin 132 being disposed (or positioned) proximal second end127 b and distal first end 127 a of slot 127. In some embodiments, theIN position of plug 126 may correspond to pin 132 contacting second end127 b of slot 127.

FIG. 12 shows joint 110 when handle 108 is in the collapsedconfiguration. As shown, trough 128 may wrap around second side 160 offirst leg 102 in the collapsed configuration of handle 108. As shown,the collapsed configuration of handle 108 may correspond to lock plug126 pushed out to the OUT position by spring 130. When handle 108 is inthe collapsed configuration, the OUT position of plug 126 may correspondto pin 132 disposed proximal (or pressing against) first end 127 a ofslot 127. In the OUT position, lock plug 126 may extend into andfrictionally engage second end portion 156 to prevent handle 108 frompivoting about axis A1 from the collapsed configuration (shown in FIG.12) toward the extended configuration (shown in FIG. 6).

FIG. 13 shows chair 100 with first leg 102, second leg 104, third leg106, seat 107, and handle 108 all in their respective collapsedconfigurations. In FIG. 13, lower portions 102 a, 104 a, and 106 a oflegs 102, 104, and 106 have been telescoped in toward trough 128.

FIGS. 3-13 show chair 100 transitioning from the extended configurationto the collapsed configuration. However, chair 100 may also betransitioned from the collapsed configuration to the extendedconfiguration by, for example, depressing lock plug 126 to the INposition, pivoting handle 108 in a direction opposite to direction D5about axis A1 (see FIG. 5), telescoping out the lower portions of thelegs in a direction opposite to D4 (see FIG. 5), pivoting seat 107 in adirection opposite to direction D3 (see FIG. 5), and pivoting legs 104and 106 relative to leg 102 (see FIG. 4) about leg pivot axis A2 toslide axis A3 in the seat slots to a position near rear end portion 107a of seat 107 (see FIG. 2).

FIGS. 14-17 are cross-sectional views similar to FIGS. 6, 8, 10, and 12,but showing another embodiment of a lock plug, indicated at 226. InFIGS. 6, 8, 10, and 12, axis A1 may be defined by protrusions extendingfrom opposite sides of leg 102 into respective apertures of trough 128,and as such may not interfere with movement of lock plug 126 and spring130 in bore 142 of leg 102.

As shown, lock plug 226 includes a distal end 226 a similar to distalend 126 a of lock plug 126, a first side 226 b similar to first side 126b of lock plug 126, and a second side 226 c similar to second side 126 cof lock plug 126. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6, 8, 10, and 12, arear end of spring 130 may be substantially fixed (or secured) in bore142, and a front end of spring 130 may press against lock plug 226 tobias lock plug 226 toward the OUT position (see FIGS. 14 and 17) andaway from the IN position (see FIGS. 15 and 16).

The following paragraphs may provide further information regardingembodiments of the present disclosure.

A0. A chair operable between an extended configuration and a collapsedconfiguration, the chair comprising: one or more legs supporting a seat;a handle extending away from the seat opposite the one or more legs; anda locking mechanism including a lock plug disposed in an elongatetrough, wherein moving the handle between the extended and collapsedconfigurations involves depressing the lock plug and flipping the troughto an opposite side of the lock plug.

A1. The chair of paragraph A0, wherein the one or more legs include afirst leg, a second leg, and a third leg, the trough pivotallyconnecting the handle to the first leg about a handle pivot axis.

A2. The chair of paragraph A1, wherein the trough is configured to wraparound a first side of the first leg when the handle is in the extendedconfiguration, and to wrap around a second side of the first legopposite the first side when the handle is in the collapsedconfiguration.

A3. The chair of paragraph A1, wherein each of the legs includes a lowerportion, an upper portion, and a central portion connecting the lowerportion to the upper portion, the central portion of the first leg beingpivotally connected to the central portions of the second and thirdlegs, a front portion of the seat being pivotally connected to the upperportion of first leg about a seat pivot axis, the seat including a slotextending from a rear portion of the seat toward the front portion ofthe seat, at least one of the upper portions of the second and thirdlegs including a pin slidingly engaged in the slot, and movement of thechair from the extended configuration toward the collapsed configurationinvolves the pin sliding in the slot toward the seat pivot axis as thelower portions of the second and third legs pivot toward the lowerportion of the first leg.

A4. The chair of paragraph A3, wherein the trough pivotally connects thehandle to the upper portion of the first leg about the handle pivotaxis, and operating the chair from the extended configuration toward thecollapsed configuration involves pivoting the handle about the handlepivot axis toward the leg pivot axis to position the upper portions ofthe first, second, and third legs between the seat and the handle.

A5. The chair of paragraph A4, wherein operating the chair from theextended configuration to the collapsed configuration involvestelescoping in the lower portions of the first, second, and third legstoward the trough.

A6. The chair of paragraph A5, wherein the chair in the collapsedconfiguration has an overall length that is less than or equal to apredetermined longest allowable exterior dimension of a carry-on airlineluggage piece.

B0. A chair operable between an extended configuration and a collapsedconfiguration, the chair comprising: one or more legs supporting a seat,and a handle extending away from the seat opposite the one or more legs,wherein the handle and the seat are pivotally connected to at least oneof the legs about a combined pivot axis.

B1. The chair of paragraph B0, the one or more legs includes a firstleg, a second leg, and a third leg, each of the legs including a centralportion connecting a lower portion to an upper portion, the centralportion of the first leg being pivotally connected to the centralportions of the second and third legs about a leg pivot axis, the handleand the seat being pivotally connected to the upper portion of the firstleg about the combined pivot axis.

B2. The chair of paragraph B1, wherein operating the chair from theextended configuration toward the collapsed configuration involvespivoting of the upper portions of the second and third legs toward theupper portion of the first leg about the leg pivot axis, pivoting of theseat about the combined pivot axis in a first direction, and pivoting ofthe handle about the combined pivot axis in a second direction oppositethe first direction to position the first, second, and third legsbetween the seat and the handle.

B3. The chair of paragraph B9, wherein the handle includes a trough, thecombined pivot axis passing through the trough, the chair including alock plug operable between an OUT position and an IN position, the OUTposition corresponding to the lock plug extending into and frictionallyengaging a portion of the trough extending away from the upper portionof the first leg, the IN position corresponding to the lock plugdepressed toward the central portion of first leg to allow the handle topivot about the combined pivot axis.

B4. The chair of paragraph B3, wherein the first leg includes a boreextending from the upper portion of the first leg toward the centralportion of the first leg, the lock plug extending further into the borewhen the lock plug is in the IN position than when the lock plug is inthe OUT position.

C0 A chair operable between an extended configuration and a collapsedconfiguration, the chair comprising: one or more legs supporting a seat;a handle extending away from the seat opposite the one or more legs; anda joint pivotally connecting the handle to at least one of the legsabout a handle pivot axis, the joint including a locking mechanism forselectively securing the handle in the extended and collapsedconfigurations.

C1. The chair of claim C0, wherein the locking mechanism includes a lockplug and a trough, the lock plug having a distal end, the trough havinga central portion disposed between first and second end portions, thelock plug being operable between an IN state and an OUT state, the OUTstate corresponding to the distal end of the lock plug positionedproximal the first end portion of the trough when the handle is in theextended configuration such that the lock plug frictionally engages thefirst end portion of the trough to prevent the handle from moving to thecollapsed configuration.

C2. The chair of claim C1, wherein the OUT state of the lock plugcorresponds to the distal end of the lock plug positioned proximal thesecond end portion of the trough when the handle is in the collapsedconfiguration such that the lock plug frictionally engages the secondend portion of the trough to prevent the handle from moving to theextended configuration.

C3. The chair of claim C2, wherein the central portion of the trough hasa greater depth than the first and second end portions of the trough ina direction perpendicular to the handle pivot axis and an elongatedirection of the trough, and the IN state of the lock plug correspondsto the distal end of the lock plug depressed to the central portion ofthe trough to allow the handle to pivot about the handle pivot axisbetween the extended and collapsed configurations.

C4. The chair of claim C3, wherein the lock plug is biased by a springtoward the OUT state.

C5. The chair of claim C0, wherein the one or more legs includes a firstleg, a second leg, and a third leg, each of the legs including a centralportion connecting a lower portion to an upper portion, the centralportion of the first leg being pivotally connected to the centralportions of the second and third legs about a leg pivot axis, the jointpivotally connecting the handle to the upper portion of the first legabout the handle pivot axis, and operating the chair from the extendedconfiguration to the collapsed configuration involves pivoting the firstleg relative to the second and third legs about the leg pivot axis, andpivoting the handle toward the leg pivot axis about the handle pivotaxis to position the first leg, the second leg, the third leg, and thehandle in a substantially flat configuration.

C6. The chair of claim C5, wherein the seat includes a front portion, arear portion, and a pair of slots extending from the rear portion towardthe front portion, the front portion of the seat being pivotallyconnected to the upper portion of the first leg about a seat pivot axis,the upper portions of the second and third legs including respectivepins that are slidingly engaged in the slots, and operating the chairfrom extended configuration to the collapsed configuration involves thepins sliding toward the front portion of the seat, and the seat pivotingtoward the leg pivot axis to position the upper portions of the first,second, and third legs between the seat and the handle.

C7. The chair of claim C6, wherein the pins define a sliding axis thatis offset from the seat pivot axis in the collapsed configuration, andthe handle secured in the collapsed configuration prevents pivoting ofthe upper portions of the second and third legs relative to the upperportion of the first leg and thereby prevents the seat from moving tothe extended configuration.

It is believed that the disclosure set forth herein encompasses multipledistinct disclosures with independent utility. While each of thesedisclosures has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specificembodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to beconsidered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. Eachexample defines an embodiment disclosed in the foregoing disclosure, butany one example does not necessarily encompass all features orcombinations that may be eventually claimed. Where the descriptionrecites “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, suchdescription includes one or more such elements, neither requiring norexcluding two or more such elements. Further, ordinal indicators, suchas first, second or third, for identified elements are used todistinguish between the elements, and do not indicate a required orlimited number of such elements, and do not indicate a particularposition or order of such elements unless otherwise specifically stated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A chair operable between an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration, the chair comprising: one or more legs supporting a seat; a handle extending away from the seat opposite the one or more legs; and a locking mechanism including a lock plug disposed in an elongate trough, wherein moving the handle between the extended and collapsed configurations involves depressing the lock plug and flipping the trough to an opposite side of the lock plug.
 2. The chair of claim 1, wherein the one or more legs include a first leg, a second leg, and a third leg, the trough pivotally connecting the handle to the first leg about a handle pivot axis.
 3. The chair of claim 2, wherein the trough is configured to wrap around a first side of the first leg when the handle is in the extended configuration, and to wrap around a second side of the first leg opposite the first side when the handle is in the collapsed configuration.
 4. The chair of claim 2, wherein each of the legs includes a lower portion, an upper portion, and a central portion connecting the lower portion to the upper portion, the central portion of the first leg being pivotally connected to the central portions of the second and third legs, a front portion of the seat being pivotally connected to the upper portion of first leg about a seat pivot axis, the seat including a slot extending from a rear portion of the seat toward the front portion of the seat, at least one of the upper portions of the second and third legs including a pin slidingly engaged in the slot, and movement of the chair from the extended configuration toward the collapsed configuration involves the pin sliding in the slot toward the seat pivot axis as the lower portions of the second and third legs pivot toward the lower portion of the first leg.
 5. The chair of claim 4, wherein the trough pivotally connects the handle to the upper portion of the first leg about the handle pivot axis, and operating the chair from the extended configuration toward the collapsed configuration involves pivoting the handle about the handle pivot axis toward the leg pivot axis to position the upper portions of the first, second, and third legs between the seat and the handle.
 6. The chair of claim 5, wherein operating the chair from the extended configuration to the collapsed configuration involves telescoping in the lower portions of the first, second, and third legs toward the trough.
 7. The chair of claim 6, wherein the chair in the collapsed configuration has an overall length that is less than or equal to a predetermined longest allowable exterior dimension of a carry-on airline luggage piece.
 8. A chair operable between an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration, the chair comprising: one or more legs supporting a seat, and a handle extending away from the seat opposite the one or more legs, wherein the handle and the seat are pivotally connected to at least one of the legs about a combined pivot axis.
 9. The chair of claim 8, the one or more legs includes a first leg, a second leg, and a third leg, each of the legs including a central portion connecting a lower portion to an upper portion, the central portion of the first leg being pivotally connected to the central portions of the second and third legs about a leg pivot axis, the handle and the seat being pivotally connected to the upper portion of the first leg about the combined pivot axis.
 10. The chair of claim 9, wherein operating the chair from the extended configuration toward the collapsed configuration involves pivoting of the upper portions of the second and third legs toward the upper portion of the first leg about the leg pivot axis, pivoting of the seat about the combined pivot axis in a first direction, and pivoting of the handle about the combined pivot axis in a second direction opposite the first direction to position the first, second, and third legs between the seat and the handle.
 11. The chair of claim 10, wherein the handle includes a trough, the combined pivot axis passing through the trough, the chair including a lock plug operable between an OUT position and an IN position, the OUT position corresponding to the lock plug extending into and frictionally engaging a portion of the trough extending away from the upper portion of the first leg, the IN position corresponding to the lock plug depressed toward the central portion of first leg to allow the handle to pivot about the combined pivot axis.
 12. The chair of claim 11, wherein the first leg includes a bore extending from the upper portion of the first leg toward the central portion of the first leg, the lock plug extending further into the bore when the lock plug is in the IN position than when the lock plug is in the OUT position.
 13. A chair operable between an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration, the chair comprising: one or more legs supporting a seat; a handle extending away from the seat opposite the one or more legs; and a joint pivotally connecting the handle to at least one of the legs about a handle pivot axis, the joint including a locking mechanism for selectively securing the handle in the extended and collapsed configurations.
 14. The chair of claim 13, wherein the locking mechanism includes a lock plug and a trough, the lock plug having a distal end, the trough having a central portion disposed between first and second end portions, the lock plug being operable between an IN state and an OUT state, the OUT state corresponding to the distal end of the lock plug positioned proximal the first end portion of the trough when the handle is in the extended configuration such that the lock plug frictionally engages the first end portion of the trough to prevent the handle from moving to the collapsed configuration.
 15. The chair of claim 14, wherein the OUT state of the lock plug corresponds to the distal end of the lock plug positioned proximal the second end portion of the trough when the handle is in the collapsed configuration such that the lock plug frictionally engages the second end portion of the trough to prevent the handle from moving to the extended configuration.
 16. The chair of claim 15, wherein the central portion of the trough has a greater depth than the first and second end portions of the trough in a direction perpendicular to the handle pivot axis and an elongate direction of the trough, and the IN state of the lock plug corresponds to the distal end of the lock plug depressed to the central portion of the trough to allow the handle to pivot about the handle pivot axis between the extended and collapsed configurations.
 17. The chair of claim 16, wherein the lock plug is biased by a spring toward the OUT state.
 18. The chair of claim 13, wherein the one or more legs includes a first leg, a second leg, and a third leg, each of the legs including a central portion connecting a lower portion to an upper portion, the central portion of the first leg being pivotally connected to the central portions of the second and third legs about a leg pivot axis, the joint pivotally connecting the handle to the upper portion of the first leg about the handle pivot axis, and operating the chair from the extended configuration to the collapsed configuration involves pivoting the first leg relative to the second and third legs about the leg pivot axis, and pivoting the handle toward the leg pivot axis about the handle pivot axis to position the first leg, the second leg, the third leg, and the handle in a substantially flat configuration.
 19. The chair of claim 18, wherein the seat includes a front portion, a rear portion, and a pair of slots extending from the rear portion toward the front portion, the front portion of the seat being pivotally connected to the upper portion of the first leg about a seat pivot axis, the upper portions of the second and third legs including respective pins that are slidingly engaged in the slots, and operating the chair from extended configuration to the collapsed configuration involves the pins sliding toward the front portion of the seat, and the seat pivoting toward the leg pivot axis to position the upper portions of the first, second, and third legs between the seat and the handle.
 20. The chair of claim 19, wherein the pins define a sliding axis that is offset from the seat pivot axis in the collapsed configuration, and the handle secured in the collapsed configuration prevents pivoting the upper portions of the second and third legs relative to the upper portion of the first leg and thereby prevents the seat from moving to the extended configuration. 